Though Nikon fans on message boards around the Web were hoping today's announcements would include a "D700x," we'll all have to settle for a not-too-shabby replacement for the D300 instead. Along with the D40's update, the D3000, and a pair of lens replacements, Nikon unveiled the D300s, which most notably includes support for 720p video capture.

The D300s incorporates the same video engine as that of the D90, which, at 720p resolution but limited to 24fps, isn't the greatest video we've seen, but it's significantly better than nothing. And the D300s goes it one better by supporting autofocus during recording--though we'll have to see how usably implemented that is--and use the Picture Controls to adjust the tone and color. The camera also has a stereo mic input.

Here's how it compares to line mates old and new:

Nikon D90

Nikon D300

Nikon D300s

Nikon D700

Sensor (effective resolution)

12.3-megapixel CMOS

12.3-megapixel CMOS

12.1-megapixel CMOS

12.1-megapixel CMOS

23.6 mm x 15.8mm

23.6 mm x 15.8mm

23.6mm x 15.8mm

36mm x 23.9mm

Magnification factor

1.5x

1.5x

1.5x

1.0x

Sensitivity range

ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 3,200/6,400 (expanded)

ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 3,200/6,400 (expanded)

ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 1,600/3,200 (expanded)

ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 6,400/25,600 (expanded)

Continuous shooting

4.5fps
n/a

6fps
n/a raw/100 JPEG

7fps
n/a raw/100 JPEG

5fps
17 raw/100 JPEG

Viewfinder
magnification/effective magnification

96% coverage
0.94x/0.63

100% coverage
0.94x/0.63x

100% coverage
0.94x/0.63x

95% coverage
0.72x/0.72x

Autofocus

11-pt AF
center cross-type

51-pt AF
15 cross-type

51-pt AF
15 cross-type

51-pt AF
15 cross-type

Live View

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Video

720p at 24fps

No

720p at 24fps

No

LCD size

3 inches fixed
920,000 dots

3 inches fixed
920,000 dots

3 inches fixed
920,000 dots

3 inches fixed
920,000 dots

Shutter durability

100,000

150,000 cycles

150,000 cycles

150,000 cycles

Battery life (CIPA rating)

850 shots

1,000 shots

950 shots

1,000 shots

Dimensions (inches, WHD)

5.2x4.1x3.0

5.8x4.5x2.9

5.8x4.5x2.9

5.8x4.8x3.0

Body operating weight (ounces)

26

32.6

32.6 (estimated)

38.7

Mfr. Price (body only)

$999.95

$1,799.95

$1,799.95

$2,999.95

Even if you don't care much about the video aspects of the camera, there's quite a bit here for photography purists, too. While the body and performance remain relatively unchanged--the continuous shooting rate is bumped by 1 fps, Nikon has tweaked both the Live View and standard AF systems, and there's some accelerated image processing, but that that's about it--the D300s adds dual CF and SD card slots (yay!), streamlined Live View operation, and a quiet shutter release mode. If you use the on-camera flash, note that the wide-angle coverage has expanded to 16mm.

There really aren't any direct competitors for the current D300 and the D300s looks to be in the same solitary segment:

Nikon D300s

Olympus E-3

Canon EOS 50D

Sensor (effective resolution)

12.1-megapixel CMOS

10.1-megapixel Live MOS

15.1-megapixel CMOS

23.6mmx15.8mm

17.3 mmx13mm

22.3mmx14.9mm

Magnification factor

1.5x

2.0x

1.6x

Sensitivity range

ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 1,600/3,200 (expanded)

ISO 100 - ISO 3,200

ISO 100 - ISO 3,200/12,800 (expanded)

Continuous shooting

7fps
n/a raw/100 JPEG

4fps
16 raw/unlimited JPEG

6.3fps
16 raw/90 JPEG

Viewfinder
magnification/effective magnification

100% coverage
0.94x/0.63x

100% coverage
1.15x/0.58x

95% coverage
0.95x/0.59x

Autofocus

51-pt AF
15 cross-type

11-pt AF
all cross-type

9-pt AF
all cross-type

Live View

Yes

Yes

Yes

Video

720p at 24fps

No

No

LCD size

3 inches fixed
920,000 dots

2.5 inches articulated
230,000 dots

3 inches fixed
920,000 dots

Shutter durability

150,000 cycles

n/a

150,000 cycles

Battery life (CIPA rating)

950 shots

610 shots

640 shots

Dimensions (inches, WHD)

5.8x4.5x2.9

5.6x4.6x2.9

5.7x4.2x2.9

Body operating weight (ounces)

32.6 (estimated)

31.6

29.8

Mfr. Price (body only)

$1,799.95

$1,399.99

$1,199

However, Canon has a press event scheduled for August 19 and rumors abound that a video-capable replacement for the didn't-set-the-world-on-fire 50D is a possibility. That might shake things up a bit.

Expect to see the D300s on your virtual store shelves at the end of August.